Iconic Singapore restaurant Komala Vilas is set to open another outlet in Serangoon Road on Nov 1.
Signage for the new venture was put up in early-October at 291 Serangoon Road, across the road from Centrium Square.
The new outlet is only 600 metres from the Komala Vilas flagship at 76-78 Serangoon Road.
Owner Rajakumar Gunasekaran, 37, said he wanted to start something new after the challenging times during the pandemic, when movements were restricted and the business was badly affected.
A Komala Vilas branch in Buffalo Road had to be closed in December 2020. And that came after the closure of an outlet of the restaurant in Race Course Road in 2019.
Mr Rajkumar opened Fennel by Komala Vilas, whose target market is the younger crowd, in River Valley Road in December 2020. The restaurant offers vegetarian fare with interesting dishes such as plant-based Rasam Chicken Mini Burger, Truffle-Cheese Dosa and Pandan Adhirasam. Diners can also enjoy craft beers at Fennel.
“Like many other restaurants, we had a severe shortage of manpower during the pandemic. Some of our employees were stuck in India and couldn’t come back,” Mr Rajakumar told tabla!, adding that the time is right for a new outlet now that things have returned to normal.
“We hope the new outlet can help ease the long queues outside our main restaurant at Serangoon Road.”
The new single-storey Komala Vilas outlet can seat up to 60 people.
Komala Vilas has become a household name in Singapore since it was established by Mr Rajakumar’s grandfather O.M. Rajoo in 1947. The restaurant was subsequently run by Mr Rajkumar’s father Rajoo Gunasekaran, who died in 2020 aged 68.
Komala Vilas made the front page in 2015, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hosted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to a sizzling thosai meal there.
Mr Rajakumar, who will get married two weeks after the new outlet opens, is optimistic that it will be a hit.
“Komala Vilas got its good name way before my time. I hope to keep the legacy going,” he said.
